Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio admonished some of his players for publishing taunting tweets about U-M. / JARRAD HENDERSON/DFP

By Jamie Samuelsen

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

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Jamie Samuelsen, co-host of the ďJamie and WojoĒ show at 6 p.m. weekdays on WXYT-FM (97.1), blogs for freep.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. You can reach him at jamsam22@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter @jamiesamuelsen and read more of his opinions at freep.com/jamie.

How big of a deal is the Michigan State-Michigan Twitter situation that popped up last weekend? How should Mark Dantonio handle it?

The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry is nastier than itís ever been. Thereís no debate about that. If you havenít been paying attention for the last four years, let me bring you up to speed.

1) Michigan canít stand the fact that Michigan State has passed them in football.

2) Michigan State fans canít stand the fact that Michigan wonít admit the fact that Michigan State has passed them in football.

And that pretty much sums it up. Oh sure, there have been some other flare-ups along the way. It didnít help that Michigan lost to MSU last season, didnít win its division, and yet earned a berth to a BCS bowl. And it didnít help that Michigan won the last two recruiting battles, causing the Old Blues to proclaim that MSUís brief run of dominance was soon coming to an end, even though nothing has happened on the field to underscore that point.

Michigan State is on top. Michigan is looking up at the Spartans. Thatís a fact.

Now, Michigan State needs to start acting like it. Obsessing about Michigan doesnít help the cause. Trying to take away from some of the things Michigan has done doesnít help the cause. And gloating about an ugly Michigan loss on Twitter definitely doesnít help the cause. In fact, it makes Michigan State look cheap. It makes them look less than they are. If youíre on top and youíre looking down, why should you care what one of the teams under you is doing?

Safety Kyle Artinian jumped on the Denard train as well ó ďDENARD IS SOOOO BAD! And it makes me feel so good.Ē

Same for Jamal Lyles ó ďI can play quarterback for the school in blue. (LeíVeon Bell) for heisman > the other guy in the great state of michigan."

That doesnít speak for the whole team or the whole school. It certainly doesnít speak for head coach Mark Dantonio, who angrily addressed the issue Tuesday at his weekly press conference. Some of the tweets were taken down. And Iím sure that some Michigan players have gone to Twitter over the years. In fact letís not forget that it was Mike Hartís infamous ďlittle brotherĒ comment that ignited this rivalry to the level itís at today. If Hart can talk down to a rival, Michigan State is entitled to do the same.

But they shouldnít. Itís unnecessary.

But more than that, it simply fuels the idea that Michigan State is so obsessed with Michigan that they canít see straight. The Spartans scored a nice win over nationally ranked Boise State on Friday night. Why should it matter what Michigan is doing on Saturday night? The two programs are rivals, and they always will be. But in the course of any rivalry, one school will rise up and another will fall. Michigan State has risen up. And this season should be a continuation of that trend. The Spartans have done the hard part in getting to this level.